Howdy Pardner!

Recently, a client team I was working on had come to crossroads. A change in leadership, team members and entry into a new phase of the project left the team dynamic a bit disjointed. Sensing a little tension and, at the very least, a lack of understanding of each other’s roles and our collective goal, a couple of us on the public information team suggested a Partnering Session.  The eye rolling in the room could have caused a landslide.

Now, I’m pretty confident I know the reasons for the “Are you sure this is a good use of our time?” questions from the more technical types on the team.  The first was budget. Our project, like most others, is financially constrained, and I’m sure they envisioned a lavish all-day session at the Marriott with a beautiful lunch spread and all the Jolly Ranchers you can eat. The second reason was their anxiety about the Kumbaya, fluffy, feel-good stuff they were sure was about to descend upon them.

“Trust us,” we said. We feel strongly that it’s necessary, we can do it on a shoestring budget, and we’ll make it worth your while.

Partnering is more than just teambuilding. Gaining popularity in the construction industry, it is the place where the diverse, separate entities that now work on large construction projects can come together to establish common goals and expectations, set roles and responsibilities, and identify milestones and roadblocks. Instead of costing money, it can save time and money on projects if done properly and regularly.

To make a long story, short, our partnering session was a huge success. We met at one of the team’s offices (saving money), and even the most vocal naysayers had some of the most thoughtful input that day. We walked away with a clear vision of what we were trying to accomplish and exactly how we would get there. And, hey, if we also learned the “most interesting thing that others might not know about our fellow team members,” then that was an added bonus.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 09/11 at 01:04 PM

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I need somebody with your sense of direction and organization to help me run my life!! Finding a place for all the ‘puzzle pieces’, albeit strange shaped pieces at times, seems to be something you accomplished quite well. It can also be seen in your wonderful photography skills.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  09/16  at  12:53 PM

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